ODC Network unveils next phase of Project Clarity to accelerate Lake Macatawa restoration
A decade-long effort to clean up Lake Macatawa is entering its next chapter as local conservation leaders launch a sweeping plan to tackle lingering pollution in one of West Michigan’s vital waterways.
WEST MICHIGAN — A decade-long effort to clean up Lake Macatawa is entering its next chapter as local conservation leaders launch a sweeping plan to tackle lingering pollution in one of West Michigan’s vital waterways.
The ODC Network unveiled the next phase of Project Clarity, a multi-year initiative designed to sustain and accelerate the restoration of Lake Macatawa and the surrounding Macatawa Watershed through 2030.
For decades, Lake Macatawa has suffered from severe algal blooms fueled by massive sediment and phosphorus runoff. Historic development across the region eliminated roughly 90 percent of local native forests and wetlands, disrupting natural filtration systems.
Launched in 2013, Project Clarity brought together farmers, researchers, local municipalities, and residents to address the runoff. The collaborative effort has yielded measurable results, preventing over 46,000 tons of sediment and 40,000 pounds of phosphorus from entering the lake annually — driving a 60 percent reduction in phosphorus levels over its first 10 years.
Despite those gains, Lake Macatawa still frequently falls short of official water quality standards for aquatic life. The upcoming phase, slated to begin in early 2027, aims to bridge that gap through five core objectives:
- Addressing legacy phosphorus: Pursuing science-driven interventions to treat phosphorus that has settled at the bottom of the lake over decades.
- Expanding watershed conservation: Advancing agricultural conservation practices, modern stormwater management, and active stream and wetland restoration.
- Ensuring long-term viability: Establishing a permanent funding mechanism alongside ongoing environmental monitoring and maintenance.
- Community engagement: Expanding public outreach and educational programs across West Michigan.
"The water quality issues we face in Lake Macatawa are a direct result of generations of development in the region that cleared forests, drained wetlands, and straightened waterways," said Travis Williams, CEO of ODC Network.
"We're excited to launch the next phase of Project Clarity, which includes a targeted solution for legacy phosphorus in the lake ... leading to cutting-edge transformational improvements in our community's most valuable shared resource."
ODC is currently building the municipal, philanthropic, and grassroots support required to sustain the project through 2030. Key regional collaborators include Grand Valley State University’s Annis Water Resources Institute, Hope College’s Global Water Research Institute, the Ottawa and Allegan Conservation Districts, local county leadership, and private landowners.
Founded in 2000, the ODC Network is a nonprofit conservation and education organization that has preserved thousands of acres of native habitat and engaged more than 1.5 million visitors across West Michigan.
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